Guidingly supported adjustable weight vertical lift carriage

ABSTRACT

A pair of upstanding parallel guides stationarily supported from a suitable support structure. A weight supporting carriage is guidingly engaged with the guides for free vertical shifting therealong and the carriage includes a main frame defining an open top and open bottom recess opening horizontally outwardly to one side of a plane containing the guides and in which a person using the exercising apparatus may be disposed with his body centered relative to the aforementioned frame. The carriage includes hand grips which may be vertically adjusted relative thereto and means for removably attaching a selected member of weights thereto.

United States Patent [1 1 I [111 3,746,337

Riecke, Jr. et al. [451 July 17, 1973 GUIDINGLY SUPPORTED ADJUSTABLE WEIGHT VERTICAL LIFT CARRIAGE Primary ExaminerRichard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-William R. Browne [76] inventors: LOUIS G. Rlecke, Jr., PO. Box I 23428, New Orleans, La 70123; Attorney-Clarence A. O Brien and Harvey B.

Thomas J. Ol-Iare, Jr., 8| Thorton Jacobson Drive, (Ihalmette, La. 70043 [22] Filed: Apr. 19, I97] [57] ABSTRACT [2]] Appl. No.2 135,098

A pair of upstanding parallel guides stationarily supported from a suitable support structure. A weight sup- [52] US. Cl...... 272/81, 272/58 porting Carriage is guiding), engaged with the guides [5 I] i A63b 23/02 A63b 23/04 for free vertical shifting therealong and the carriage in- [58] Fleld of Search 272/81, 79 R, 84,

cludes a main frame defining an open top and open bot- 272/DIG' 82 tom recess opening horizontally outwardly to one side 1 of a plane containing the guides and in which a person [56] References Cited using the exercising apparatus may be disposed with his UNITED STATES PATENTS body centered relative to the aforementioned frame.

3,451,271 6/1969 Knoblauch 272/79 R The carriage includes hand grips which may be verti- 3,346,256 10/1967 White l 272/84 X cally adjusted relative thereto and means for rcmovably 3,524,644 8/[970 Kane 272/83 R tta hing a selected member of weights thereto.

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS 5 Cl 6 D 1,444.065 5/1966 France 272/81 1 rawmg PAIENIibJm 1mm SNEU 1 0F 2 Fig. 4

, PATENTEUJUL 1 H913 Ill.

illzaxii SHEU 2 0F 2 Louis 6. Riecke, Jr.

Thomas J. O'hbre, Jr.

m I and WW Em GUIDINGLY SUPPORTED ADJUSTABLE WEIGHT VERTICAL LIFT CARRIAGE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The exercising apparatus of the instant invention has been designed for indoor use as well as outdoor use and is constructed in a manner whereby persons of various sizes may efficiently use the apparatus and substantially any number of individual weights may be added to gravity resist upward displacement of the vertically reciprocal weight supporting carriage thereof. Further, if it is desired, a person utilizing the exercising apparatus may center himself between opposite side portions of the weight carriage and grip height adjusted opposite side hand grips for raising and lowering the weight carriage of the apparatus while centered in a plane in which his hands move while raising and lowering the weight carriage. In addition, the person utilizing the exercising apparatus may, at his discretion, position himself to the full extent of his arm reach to one side of the same plane so as to bring different muscles into play when raising and lowering the weight carriage of the exercising apparatus.

The main object of this invention is to provide an exercising apparatus which may be used in various ways for exercising purposes.

Another object of this invention is to provide an exercising apparatus which may be utilized indoors as well as outdoors.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an exercising apparatus constructed in a manner whereby various amounts of weight may be added thereto so as to vary gravity resistance to upward movement of the vertically shiftable weight carriage thereof.

A further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus in accordancewith the preceding objects including means for vertically shifting the lifting points thereof. 1

A final objectof this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide an exercising apparatus which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively troublefree in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being has to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. I is a top plan view of the exercising apparatus; FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the exercising apparatus;

F IG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view illustrating the manner in which the weight carriage components and lifting barandhandles are assembled; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 generally designates the exercising apparatus of the instant invention. The apparatus includes a support frame referred to in general by the reference numeral 12 and including a pair of upstanding guide tubes 14 and 16 interconnected at their upper ends by means of an upper transverse tube 18. The guide tubes 16 are vertically disposed and parallel each other and have their lower ends embedded in cementitious footings l8 recessed in the ground 20. In lieu of the cementitious footings l8 suitable feet of enlarged horizontal plan area may be utilized in order that the frame 12 may be supported in stationary position from a suitable flooring surface or ground surface in a temporary manner.

The apparatus 10 further includes a weight carriage referred to in general by the reference numeral 22 and including a pair of upstanding tubes or sleeves 24 and 26 slidably disposed over the tubes 14 and I6 for guided movement vertically therealong. The weight carriage 22 further includes a pair of vertically spaced and registered semicircular connecting tubes 28 and 30 having corresponding opposite ends thereof secured to the tubes 24 and 26. The mid portions of the connecting tubes 28 and 30 areconnected by means of an upstanding connecting tube 32 secured and extending therebetween. The tubes 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32 define a rigid carriage slidably disposed on the guide tubes 14 and 16 for verticalmovement therealong.

The forward sides of the tubes 24 and 26 include forwardly projecting horizontal and vertically spaced upper and lower threaded support shanks 36 and 38 from which vertically spaced portions of a pair of upstanding wooden uprights 40 are secured, the shanks 36 and 38 passing through front to rear extending bores 42 formed in the uprights 40 and threaded nuts 44 being threaded on the ends of the shanks 36 and 38 which project through the bores 42.

The uprights 40 include vertically spaced pairs of horizontally registered transverse bores 46 and a transverse lift bar 48 has its opposite ends snugly received through one pair of corresponding bores 46 at the de sired elevation along the uprights 40. In addition, a pair of inwardly projecting hand grip bars 50 have their re mote end portions snugly received through a second pair of corresponding bores 46 at a different elevation.

Either the lift bar 48 or the hand grip bars 50 may be mounted in position and engaged by the user of the apparatus 10 in order to effect an upward thrust on the weight carriage 22. Of course, the bars 48 and 50 are rotatably received in the corresponding bores 46.

The lowerends of the tubes 24 and 26 include oppostively laterally outwardly projecting weight support pipes 52 and the lower ends of the uprights 40 include a second pair of forwardly projecting weight pipes 54. A plurality of weights 56 may be mounted on the pipes 52 and 54 to provide the desired gravity weighting of the carriage 22 and the lower end portions of the guide tubes 14 and 16 have stop collars 58 secured thereon against which the lowerends of the guide tubes 14 and 16 may rest to define the lower limit of movement of the carriage 22 relative to the frame 12 to insure that the person using theapparatus 10 will not be injured by the weighted carriage 22 dropping downward below the comfortable limit of movement of the hands of the user.

In operation, after the desired number of weights 56 have been added to the pipes 52 and 54, a person wishing to use the apparatus may place himself within the forwardly opening recess defined between the tubes 24 and 26 and by the tubes 28 and 30. Then, either the hand grip bars 50 or the lift bar 48 may be optionally mounted in position and grasped in order to apply an upward thrust on the carriage 22. Of course, repeated lifting and lowering of the carriage 22 will provide exercise for certain lifting muscles of the arms and the torso. Also, either the bar 48 or the bars 50 may be engaged in lower bores 46 formed in the uprights 40 and held at the same level relative to the torso and the legs may be exercised to raise and lower the carriage 22.

Also, the person using the apparatus 10 may place himself forward of the uprights 40 and face into the recess defined by the tubes 24, 26,28 and 30 with his hand gripping either the bar 48 or the bars 50. In this manner, further muscles of the body will be exercised in raising and lowering the carriage 22. Still further, a person using the exercising apparatus 10 may lie down upon a bench extending forwardly away from the apparatus 10 with his head adjacent the apparatus 10 and his arms in an overhead position. Then, with either the bar 48 or the bars 50 mounted in a low position relative to the uprights 40 the user of the apparatus may complete a series of exercises while his arms are disposed in an overhead position.

There are of course other ways in which the exercising apparatus 10 may be used. The gravity weighting of the carriage 22 may be varied as desired according to the exercises to be performed and excess weighting of the carriage 22 may be practiced in order to perform isometric exercises.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An exercising apparatus comprising a pair of upstanding parallel guides stationarily suported at their lower ends from a suitable support structure, a weight supporting carriage guidingly supported from the guides for vertical shifting therealong, said carriage defining a upstanding recess between said guides extending outwardly in a plan at right angles to a plane containing said guides and forming a complete enclosure for a user, and also being open at its top and bottom, said weight supporting carriage including means for supporting weights therefrom and means for gripping by the hands of a user of the exercising apparatus for raising and lowering the weight supporting carriage relative to the guides, said carriage including opposite side upstanding sleeves slidingly telescoped over said guides for guided vertical shifting therealong, said sleeves being interconnected at corresponding vertically spaced points by means of a pair of horizontally disposed generally U-shaped members spaced apart vertically and having their opposite ends secured to said sleeves, said'U-shaped members and sleeves defining said recess, said means for gripping including upstanding uprights supported from said sleeves, said uprights including vertically spaced pairs of aligned hirozontal transverse bores, and said hand gn'pping means further including rods means ends are removably received in one pair of said bores that are axially aligned.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said weight supporting carriage further includes horizontally outwardly projecting weight support bars carried by each of said uprights. v

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the lower end portions of said guides include abutment collars with which the lower ends of said sleeves are abutingly engagable to limit downward movement of said weight carriage relative to said guides.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said rod ends comprise the remote ends of a pair of axially short horizontally spaced apart and aligned hand grip bars having said remote ends received in said one pair of said bores.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said rod ends comprise the opposite ends of an elongated lift bar extending between said uprights. 

1. An exercising apparatus comprising a pair of upstanding parallel guides stationarily suported at their lower ends from a suitable support structure, a weight supporting carriage guidingly supported from the guides for vertical shifting therealong, said carriage defining a upstanding recess between said guides extending outwardly in a plan at right angles to a plane containing said guides and forming a complete enclosure for a user, and also being open at its top and bottom, said weight supporting carriage including means for supporting weights therefrom and means for gripping by the hands of a user of the exercising apparatus for raising and lowering the weight supporting carriage relative to the guides, said carriage including opposite side upstanding sleeves slidingly telescoped over said guides for guided vertical shifting therealong, said sleeves being interconnected at corresponding vertically spaced points by means of a pair of horizontally disposed generally Ushaped members spaced apart vertically and having their opposite ends secured to said sleeves, said U-shaped members and sleeves defining said recess, said means for gripping including upstanding uprights supported from said sleeves, said uprights including vertically spaced pairs of aligned hirozontal transverse bores, and said hand gripping means further including rods means ends are removably received in one pair of said bores that are axially aligned.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said weight supporting carriage further includes horizontally outwardly projecting weight support bars carried by each of said uprights.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the lower end portions of said guides include abutment collars with which the lower ends of said sleeves are abutingly engagable to limit downward movement of said weight carriage relative to said guides.
 4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said rod ends comprise the remote ends of a pair of axially short horizontally spaCed apart and aligned hand grip bars having said remote ends received in said one pair of said bores.
 5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said rod ends comprise the opposite ends of an elongated lift bar extending between said uprights. 